Mom’s Choice Awards is excited to announce another post in our interview series where we chat with the inventors, designers, publishers, and others behind some of our favorite family-friendly products.
Hello, Mom’s Choice readers! Thank you for joining us for another Mom’s Choice Interview. For this interview, Mom’s Choice was able to sit down with one of our honorees and author of the award-winning Balloons for Tiger, Lori Orlinsky. Balloons for Tiger takes an imaginative look at this tough topic as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. Dealing with the loss of a pet is very difficult, to say the least, and there is a lot of comfort in knowing there are books such as Balloons for Tiger to help cope with such a devastating loss. Balloons for Tiger is an imaginative, playful, sentimental, and all-around magical story that is sure to warm the heart of anyone who reads it. Keep reading to find out more about Balloons for Tiger and where Lori got the inspiration to create it!
MCA: Hi Lori! It’s so nice to speak with you again and congratulations on yet another Mom’s Choice Award! Can we start the interview by finding out a little bit about yourself?
Lori’s two daughters holding a balloon for Tiger.
Lori: I am a multi-award-winning author and “Balloons for Tiger” is my third book. My other two books, “Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All)” and “The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache” are also Mom’s Choice Award winners. In addition to writing, I own a PR firm, Foreword Publicity, that helps other authors market their books.
MCA: What was your path to becoming a writer like? What inspired you?
Lori: When my daughter Hayley (now 7) was 3 years old, she was bullied because she was the shortest child in her class. Unable to find a book to make small kids feel better about their height, I wrote, “Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All).” After the book was released in 2019, I haven’t looked back.
MCA: That is amazing that you were able to help not only your daughter but countless other children who also face bullying over physical characteristics that are out of their control. What was the inspiration behind writing Balloons for Tiger?
Lori: After the loss of our 18-year-old cat, Tiger, we did a balloon release to celebrate her memory. Following the balloon release, my kids asked me where the balloons were, and I found myself making up stories about their journey and I noticed it help them cope with their loss. There are not a lot of books out there that address pet loss in a way that isn’t religious or spiritual. “Balloons For Tiger” takes an imaginative look at pet loss and helps kids positively process their feelings.
MCA: I’m am very sorry to hear about your loss, coping with the loss of a pet is truly one of the hardest things a person can do. Balloons for Tiger is one of those books that really help guide you through the bereavement process of losing a pet. What are some of the key lessons found in Balloons for Tiger?
Tiger the Cat, the inspiration behind “Balloons for Tiger”
Lori: Even though an animal has passed, kids can learn that the special memories they have will live on in their hearts forever.
MCA: Can you give some advice on how someone can positively process grief?
Lori: I’m a big fan of a balloon release because it represents a tangible way for kids to “let go” of their sadness.
MCA: Such a sweet and effective way to celebrate the life and loss of a pet. What kind of response from readers have you received?
Lori: I received feedback that this book is a good tool for helping kids cope with the loss of loved ones, too – not just animals.
MCA: That is truly wonderful. Thank you for a great interview, Lori!
You can learn more about Lori Orlinsky and her award-winning book, Balloons for Tiger by visiting her MCA Shop pages.
